Dale Earnhardt's black No. 3 is one of the most iconic cars and car numbers in all of racing. Earnhardt drove the famous car from the mid-80s until his death in 2001. He won seven NASCAR Cup championships, six of them in the famous Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

Here, Earnhardt beats Davey Allison (28) and Bobby Allison to win the 1988 Busch Clash at Daytona International Speedway. Earnhardt won the season-opening exhibition a record six times. (AP Photo)

Earnhardt holds off Mark Martin (6) and Ernie Irvan to win one of the 125-mile qualifying races at Daytona in 1992. Earnhardt won a record 12 qualifiers at Daytona. (AP Photo)

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July heat

Earnhardt's Richard Childress Racing crew congratulates him on winning the 1993 Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Earnhardt won a record 34 races in all series at Daytona, but had just three Cup points wins there. (AP Photo)

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Photo finish

Earnhardt races Ernie Irvan to the checkered flag at Talladega in 1993. Earnhardt beat Irvan by inches in one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history. Earnhardt won a record 10 races at Talladega. (AP Photo)

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The Man

Earnhardt climbs from his car after winning the 1995 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994 at age 23. Earnhardt joked that he was the first "man" to win the race. (AP Photo)

Earnhardt sits in the window of his car prior to the 2001 Gatorade Duel qualifying races at Daytona. (AP Photo)

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One last run

Earnhardt pushes his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., to the front near the end of the 2001 Daytona 500. Earnhardt Jr. would finish second to teammate Michael Waltrip while his father was involved in a fatal crash on the final lap. (AP Photo)

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Sweet

Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove an Oreo-sponsored No. 3 in the 2002 Live Well 300 Busch Series race at Daytona. Earnhardt Jr. won the race in his first outing in a NASCAR No. 3. (AP Photo)

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Wrangler

Dale Earnhardt Jr. crosses the finish line to win the 2010 Nationwide Series race at Daytona in a Wrangler-sponsored No. 3. Earnhardt Sr. was sponsored by Wrangler early in his career. (AP Photo)

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The 3 returns

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress' grandson, first brought the No. 3 back, racing it in the NASCAR Truck Series and then taking it to the Nationwide Series. He won championships in both series with the No. 3. (AP Photo)

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Ty's turn

Ty Dillon, Austin's brother, celebrates a Truck Series victory. Ty also raced the No. 3 in the Truck Series and will take over the number in Nationwide this year. (AP Photo)

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It's time

Austin Dillon and team owner Richard Childress unveil the No. 3 that Dillon will race in the Sprint Cup Series this year. The famous car number will return to the Cup series for the first time since Earnhardt's death. (AP Photo)

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Big moment

Dillon climbs into the black No. 3 during preseason testing at Daytona. Childress said seeing the car number on the track at Daytona for the first time since 2001 was special. It will be even more special when Dillon takes the green flag for the Daytona 500. (AP Photo)